Antimicrobial peptides in saliva of children with severe early childhood caries.
Colombo. Natália H NH; Ribas. Laís F F LF; Pereira. Jesse A JA; Kreling. Paula F PF; Kressirer. Christine A CA; Tanner. Anne C R AC; Duque. Cristiane C
Key Findings
- Salivary levels of LL‑37, hBD‑2, hBD‑3, and histatin‑5 were similar across caries‑free, ECC, and severe ECC groups.
- Higher mutans streptococci counts correlated with higher hBD‑2 and histatin‑5 levels.
- Combinations of peptides, particularly involving LL‑37, were positively associated with greater caries severity.
Practical Outcomes
- Boosting LL‑37 alone is unlikely to prevent cavities; the findings suggest the oral peptide response is more a marker of bacterial load than a protective tool. For biohackers, focusing on oral hygiene and controlling mutans streptococci remains the actionable strategy.
Summary
The study looked at natural antimicrobial peptides in kids' saliva, including LL‑37, and found that the amount of each peptide alone didn’t differ between kids with or without severe cavities. However, when several peptides were present together, especially LL‑37, they were linked to worse cavity scores, likely reflecting the mouth’s response to infection rather than a protective effect.
Abstract
Controversies exist regarding the relationship between the concentrations of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and presence of dental caries in children. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine levels of AMPs in saliva of caries-free (CF), early childhood caries (ECC) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) children to determine if the levels of these salivary peptides individually or in combinations were related to caries severity and mutans streptococci levels. 36 to 60 month-old children were selected to participate in this study. Children were grouped into CF group (n=29), ECC group (n=25) and S-ECC group (n=29). Saliva was collected from children for microbiological analysis by culture. Salivary concentrations of cathelicidin LL-37, human β-defensin 2 (hBD-2), human β-defensin 3 (hBD-3) and histatin-5 (HTN-5) were determined by ELISA. Salivary concentrations of AMPs did not differ among CF, ECC and S-ECC groups. Data showed positive correlations between mutans streptococci levels and salivary hBD-2 or HTN-5. Positive correlations were found between hBD-2, hBD-3, LL-37 and HTN-5. Combinations among AMPs, mainly LL-37, were positively associated with caries levels. Salivary concentrations of AMPs individually were not associated with the severity of early childhood caries. The stimulus of caries appears to trigger a biological response, however, with a combination of these peptides.
Study Information
pubmed
2016
2016-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.archoralbio.2016.05.009
51
37